." Tincture of larkspur, or an ointment
made from the seeds, may also be used. It is applied several days in
succession and then washed out.

CHAPTER XXXIII

DEFORMITIES AND CHRONIC DISORDERS

Reference has already been made to certain accidents of embryology
during the very early days or weeks of the formative period of the
embryo. Common illustrations of such deforming developmental accidents
are harelip, cleft palate, and club foot.

HARELIP AND CLEFT PALATE

In the case of a partial or complete failure of the two sides of the
face to come together in the median line, a deformity results which is
known as harelip--a partial or complete cleft of the upper lip. It may
be a single or a double cleft, exposing the teeth, or the cleft may
even extend up into the nose. This deformity may seriously interfere
with nursing, making it necessary to resort to feeding with a medicine
dropper and later a spoon. The success of the operation for the relief
of harelip, which should usually be performed during the early months
of life, is often very remarkable.

Should this failure to unite be in the deeper structures of the head,
then cleft palate is the result. This, too, may be partial or
complete: partial as seen in a cleft of the soft palate only; and
complete, when the hard palate also is involved. In such an instance
it is the floor of the nose that is defective; hence the nose and
mouth are one cavity.

A specially devised apparatus which assists the child in nursing may
be found on the market, for nursing is well-nigh impossible without
the closure of the roof of the mouth. The operation for cleft palate
is usually successful when performed at the proper time and by
competent hands.

In tongue-tie the weblike membrane underneath is attached too far
forward, so that the child is quite unable to protrude his tongue, and
this condition greatly interferes with sucking. The operation for the
relief of this condition is slight, and should be performed as soon as
the defect is discovered.

DEFORMED HANDS AND FEET

Occasionally there is a webbing of one or more fingers of the hand,
and there are sometimes seen too many fingers or a double thumb. It is
needless to allow such a deformity to continue; the operation for
relief is often remarkably successful and should be performed very
early.

Clubfoot results when short tendons or contracted tendons pull the
toes inward or outward with raising of the heel. Tre